Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals after a late 2-1 victory over Belgium on Friday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The European champions will face France in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday in a highly anticipated matchup.
The quarterfinal contest saw Spain take an early lead through Fabian Ruiz’s well-taken goal on the half-hour mark. Belgium responded before halftime, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring in the 41st minute to level the score. This marked the first goal Spain had conceded in the tournament.
The game remained tightly contested as it approached extra time. In the 88th minute, Pau Cubarsi unleashed a long-range effort from 25 yards, which Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold. Spain’s substitute Mikel Merino quickly capitalized on the rebound to score the winning goal. Merino, who also scored the winner against Portugal in the last 16, celebrated before the home crowd of 70,492. Speaking after the match, Merino acknowledged the fortuitous nature of his second consecutive match-winning goal but emphasized Spain’s readiness and confidence ahead of the semifinal.
Belgium’s Lammens had come on after first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off due to injury in the second half. Courtois offered support to Lammens at the final whistle, praising his resilience despite the costly error.
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, described the upcoming clash against France as “a final before the final,” highlighting the strength of both teams. France secured their place in the semifinals by comfortably beating Morocco 2-0 on Thursday. However, the French side is likely to have noted some defensive vulnerabilities in Spain during their recent match.
Spain winger Lamine Yamal was named player of the match after showing growing influence throughout the game, particularly down Belgium’s right flank.
The tournament’s remaining quarterfinal matches are set for Saturday, with Norway facing England in Miami. Norway’s coach, Stale Solbakken, spotlighted the striker duel between Erling Haaland and Harry Kane as crucial to the outcome. Haaland has scored seven goals in his first four major tournament appearances, helping Norway reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 28 years. Kane, close behind with six goals, is England’s top scorer and has helped them reach their third consecutive World Cup quarterfinal. Kane described Haaland as “a beast” but noted their differing playing styles.
As the World Cup progresses, anticipation is building for a semifinal clash between two European powerhouses, Spain and France, with both teams seeking a place in the final.